Mar 14 A Snapshot of Economic Inequality Across our ‘Patchwork Nation’ By Elizabeth Shell EDITOR'S NOTE: Paul Solman and Dante Chinni of Patchwork Nation recently traveled to Ohio's Crawford and Delaware counties to examine economic inequality. In a preview of the upcoming story, which is slated to air on Tuesday's broadcast, we're… Continue reading
Mar 11 What We’re Reading: Economic Impact of the Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan By Elizabeth Shell EDITOR'S NOTE: Paul Solman is traveling today but we here at Making Sen$e wanted to share a list of reports we've been following on the financial impact of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Though it's too soon to say… Continue reading
Mar 10 ProPublica’s Mortgage Mod Squad: HAMP’S a Flop By Diane Lincoln Estes, Paul Solman As you've probably heard by now either on our program or elsewhere, the administration's Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP for short) has been a disappointment -- to put it generously. The program, announced back in February 2009, aimed to… Continue reading
Mar 03 Feelin’ Lousy- Financially Groovy In Song By Elizabeth Shell EDITOR'S NOTE: Last month, we featured a week-long series of songs by our country crooning friend Merle Hazard about the Euro-debt crisis: Spain, Ireland, Italy and Germany, and an encore of the infamous Greek… Continue reading
Mar 01 Tool$ Tuesday and How States Have Responded to the Pension Crunch By Elizabeth Shell EDITOR'S NOTE: We received a number of responses from viewers like you regarding last week's broadcast story, "In Tiny Rhode Island, a Massive Public Pension Crisis Looms" and the Making Sen$e web piece, "Paying For Public Pensions." So,… Continue reading
Feb 24 Paying For Public Pensions By Elizabeth Shell Editor's Note: As the fire over collective bargaining and public worker benefits burns across the country, on Thursday's broadcast we're looking at perhaps the issue behind it all: public pensions and how to pay for them. Our story takes place… Continue reading
Feb 23 The Pain in Spain: Hard Rain Gonna Fall? By Elizabeth Shell The specter of Euro-debt default is again roiling the markets. "Worries Over Europe Pose Risks for Euro," read a headline in Monday's Wall Street Journal. "Spain Pegs Cajas' Possible Problem Debt," warned another. (Cajas are the regional Spanish… Continue reading
Feb 09 Holy Email, Batwoman! Is Economics Stuck in the Mud? By Elizabeth Shell Name: Jean Maier Question: Hello Mr. Solman, I enjoy your economic reports on the NewsHour often. I imagine that you will be attending the AEA meeting this January. I'll have to say that I question a lot of what I… Continue reading
Feb 08 Watch Cities, States Face Tough Choices on Debt Amid Cash-Flow Concerns Wall Street investors and some in Congress recently have raised concerns about the risk of cash-strapped municipalities defaulting on bonds they issued. Judy Woodruff talks to the National League of Cities' Chris Hoene and Richard Larkin of Herbert J. Sims… Continue watching
Feb 03 AIG and Credit Default Swaps: A Clarification By Elizabeth Shell Name: Merritt Dunn Question: Since the Treasury Department bailed out AIG and AIG had underwritten a large number of credit default swaps (that I understand pay up if a certain percentage of mortgages in a portfolio go into foreclosure), then… Continue reading